I have just been told about an amazing French resource that anyone can access-and by searching vintage magazines, you can find old sewing patterns in France….suggest you try searching for “mode pratique”

Gallery

This lovely vintage French sewing pattern was published in the 1940s by Claudine. Patterns are for a pair of French knickers and a petticoat. The actual pattern doesn’t include seams allowances and is printed on plain silk dress making tissue.

These antique vintage sewing pattern sheets were published as supplements to the magazine”Journal des Demoiselles” . This magazine was also known as the Journal Des Dames et Des Demoiselles. It was a Ladies’ Journal, perhaps the precursor of such fashion magazines as Vogue. The Journal was issued monthly & covered many aspects of a lady’s life, presenting a fascinating glimpse of the times. There are stories, fashion articles, patterns for needlework, crochet & the crafts of the day, lots of hats & above all the glorious hand colored prints of women and children in marvelous and elaborate costumes of the day. It is interesting to note how popular the color blue was in this period. The colour prints-see pictures above -would then be reproduced as sewing patterns on large sheet.

This fantastic large vintage sewing pattern sheet was published in March 1897 by Mode Illustree in Paris France and was a supplement to The magazine. The pattern sheet of many lines gives layouts and instructions for a number of garments including a dress with a cape; a dress decorated with Galons and with dickey in Tartan; a dress with open jacket and soutache embroidery;a mantelet with elaborate frills.

On the reverse side are diagrams for Costume de Bicyclette or cycling trousers to be worn under a special skirt and blouse.The garments were usually illustrated in the magazine-see pictures!

This edition of Mode Pratique was published in August 1927 and contained several sewing pattern supplements for Flapper fashions which were illustrated in the magazine along with instructions to make up the garments.

The patterns don’t contain seams allowances and no facings are given. Often the pattern will need lengthening too.

Heres some vintage sewing patterns from the 1950s/early 1960s that were published in Paris. The pattern makes have great names-“Allure de Paris” “Paris Luxe” and the great designs of course. These patterns do not include seams and hems allowances.

Mode Illustree was published in Paris France from the late 19th century though to the middle of the 20th century. This Victorian edition contained a large sewing pattern sheet for various garments that were illustrated in the magazine-including this beautiful wedding gown

The French womens fashion magazines “echo de la Mode” (a whisper of fashion) and Femmes d’aujourd’hui” (Women of today) which were both published in Paris, continued to give supplement sewing pattern sheets away with their magazines in the 1960s.

These sheet usually give the garment illustrations for front and back views;pattern layouts and brief instructions. The reverse sheet gives the actual pattern as a series of lines which are meant to be traced off for each pattern piece. Seams and hems allowances aren’t given.